SABC 2
A South African free-to-air public television channel operated by the South African Broadcasting Corporation, with a family-oriented schedule spanning multiple local languages.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
SABC 2 is a South African free-to-air television channel owned and operated by the South African Broadcasting Corporation, the country's public-service broadcaster. The channel serves audiences primarily in South Africa and is positioned around family viewing, locally relevant entertainment, education, factual programming, news, religion, culture and selected sport. Its schedule has historically combined English and Afrikaans with several South African languages, including Venda, Tsonga, Sotho, Sepedi and Setswana. As of March 2024, the channel was broadcasting in English, Venda, Tsonga, Sotho, Sepedi and Setswana. The present-day service emerged on 4 February 1996 from the restructuring of South Africa's three national SABC television networks. It replaced TV1, the principal network inherited from the apartheid-era broadcasting system, while the wider reorganisation created a new division of language, audience and programming responsibilities among SABC 1, SABC 2 and SABC 3. The change was intended to make the television service more representative of the country's population after the 1994 democratic transition. SABC 2 consequently became associated with Afrikaans and several Sotho- and Venda-related audiences, although English remained a major component of its schedule. The channel's historical lineage extends back to the launch of SABC Television, later known as TV1, in January 1976. Before that launch, television availability in South Africa was limited largely to closed-circuit systems. The SABC began test transmissions in 1975 and introduced a national television service on 6 January 1976. During the apartheid period, the service was criticised for conservative editorial policies, censorship and its perceived use as a communications instrument of the ruling National Party. The SABC later operated TV2 and TV3, which were aimed largely at Black urban audiences and used African-language programming. These arrangements were gradually dismantled during the political transition of the early 1990s. When TV1 was rebranded as SABC 2 in 1996, the channel reduced the proportion of Afrikaans programming and increased English and African-language content. The shift caused dissatisfaction among some Afrikaans-speaking viewers, but it reflected the broadcaster's attempt to move away from the segregated language structure of the previous system. At different points, SABC 2 described itself as a broad public-service channel and emphasised its coverage of South African communities, education and social issues. The channel also adjusted its schedule in response to commercial competition, especially after the launch of e.tv and the growth of subscription television. SABC 2 became known for long-running local serials and soaps, particularly 7de Laan and Muvhango, alongside dramas, telenovelas, documentaries, reality shows, music programmes, religious broadcasts and current-affairs content. Its news output includes language-specific bulletins and national coverage, while Morning Live has been a notable breakfast and current-affairs programme. The channel has also carried international acquisitions, including series such as NCIS, Pretty Little Liars, Teen Wolf and The Vampire Diaries, although its more recent identity has placed greater emphasis on local factual, reality and entertainment programming. SABC 2 introduced a new visual identity and logo on 1 March 2013, using blue as its dominant colour with red, yellow and green accents. The channel began broadcasting in high definition on 8 August 2018, following an earlier plan to introduce HD distribution through DStv. Its sports role is comparatively limited because of funding and rights constraints; it has generally concentrated on highlights and selected national or continental matches rather than maintaining a broad live-sports portfolio. In August 2025, the SABC cancelled Muvhango, removing one of the channel's important primetime Venda-language programmes. SABC 2 remains an active…
History
SABC 2 descends from the SABC's first national television service. The corporation began television test transmissions in early 1975 and conducted trial broadcasts on 5 May of that year. The official service, initially called SABC Television or SAUK-Televisie, opened on 6 January 1976. Its launch followed a lengthy technical and organisational project and made South Africa one of the last industrialised countries to introduce television. The new service initially offered a relatively short evening schedule containing news, entertainment, sport and children's programming. During the late 1970s, SABC television expanded its transmitter network and reached a growing proportion of the population, although access was uneven between white and Black viewers. The service operated within the political and regulatory environment of apartheid South Africa. It was criticised for strict moral standards, censorship and editorial alignment with the ruling National Party. In 1979, for example, an episode of Dallas was withheld because its storyline was considered too sensitive. The service's language and scheduling arrangements also reflected the country's segregated broadcasting structure. On 31 December 1981, the SABC introduced TV2 and TV3. These services were designed largely for Black urban audiences and broadcast in different combinations of African languages, while the main network became known as TV1 and continued to carry English and Afrikaans programming. Over the following decade, the SABC made limited changes to its on-screen representation and programming, but the system remained shaped by apartheid-era assumptions. The political transition at the beginning of the 1990s brought more substantial changes. Non-white presenters became more visible, current-affairs programmes incorporated wider political viewpoints and the broadcaster began moving away from the previous segregated model. In 1993, TV1 entered an arrangement under which it carried Sky News during some off-air hours. The station also broadcast political discussion programming during the transition to democracy, although perceptions of editorial bias persisted. After the 1994 democratic elections, the SABC reviewed the structure and purpose of its three national television networks. A major reorganisation was approved in late 1995 and implemented in February 1996. TV1 became SABC 2, while the other services were reorganised as SABC 1 and SABC 3. The new SABC 2 was intended to serve a mixed-language audience and to contribute to a more representative national broadcasting system. English occupied a larger share of the schedule than it had on TV1, while Afrikaans was reduced and African-language output was retained or expanded. This redistribution angered some Afrikaans viewers, but the SABC presented it as part of the post-apartheid transformation of public broadcasting. At the time of the transition, the channel's schedule included English, Afrikaans, Sepedi, Sesotho, Setswana, Xitsonga and Tshivenda, as well as multilingual programmes. The channel's operating model changed again after the SABC's commercialisation in 1997. SABC 2 discontinued the inherited Good Morning South Africa breakfast programme and subsequently stated that it would focus more strongly on public-service content. It experimented with externally produced programming, including the Urban Brew Studios breakfast programme am2day, but later brought breakfast production back inside the SABC. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the channel also responded to competition from e.tv, subscription services and the growth of specialist Afrikaans channels by strengthening local drama, factual, educational and social-issue programming. By 2002, SABC 2 presented itself as a channel representing South African voices and communities. It developed or promoted programmes such as The Res, Dark City and Zero Tolerance, expanded 7de Laan and continued Muvhango. In 2003, it announced twelve new local productions spanning drama, sitcom, documentary and family entertainment. It also carried a History Channel block under an agreement with AETN. Over time, the schedule developed into a broad mixture of local soaps and dramas, telenovelas, reality and factual shows, news, current affairs, music, religion and limited sport. The channel refreshed its identity on 1 March 2013, adopting a blue-dominant logo with red, yellow and green details. It later completed a technical upgrade to high-definition distribution, with HD broadcasting beginning officially on 8 August 2018. In its recent programming mix, SABC 2 has continued to combine English with Venda, Tsonga, Sotho, Sepedi and Setswana, while maintaining Afrikaans news and entertainment output. Its sports coverage has generally been constrained by rights and funding considerations, leading it to focus more on highlights and selected matches than on a comprehensive live-sports schedule. The cancellation of Muvhango in August 2025 represented a significant change to the channel's long-running local and Venda-language primetime offering. SABC 2 remains an active component of the SABC television portfolio, balancing public-service obligations, local production, multilingual representation and commercial audience pressures.
- 2025
Muvhango is cancelled
[1]The SABC ended Muvhango, removing a major long-running Venda-language programme from SABC 2's primetime schedule.
- 2018
HD broadcasting begins
[1]SABC 2 officially commenced high-definition broadcasting on 8 August.
- 2013
Current logo and visual identity introduced
[1]SABC 2 launched a blue-led brand identity with additional red, yellow and green elements.
- 2003
Twelve original programmes announced
[1]The channel announced a broad slate of new local productions across several genres.
- 2002
Local-content expansion
[1]SABC 2 announced an effort to deepen local programming and reflect a wider range of South African communities and cultures.
- 1997
Channel adopts a stronger public-service focus
[1]Following SABC commercialisation, SABC 2 discontinued its inherited breakfast show and announced a greater emphasis on public-service content.
- 1996
SABC 2 is created from TV1
[1]The SABC reorganised its national television networks and launched SABC 2 as the successor to TV1.
- 1993
TV1 carries Sky News during off-air hours
[1]The SABC agreed to carry Sky News programming on TV1 during portions of the channel's otherwise unused broadcast time.
- 1981
TV2 and TV3 are introduced
[1]The SABC added two services aimed mainly at Black urban audiences and using African-language programming.
- 1976
National SABC television service launches
[1]SABC Television, later known as TV1, officially began broadcasting on 6 January.
Products and positioning
A multilingual South African public-service television channel focused on family viewing, local culture, community representation, news, education and accessible entertainment.
television programming
Local drama and soap opera
SABC 2 has historically relied on locally produced serial drama and soap opera as core schedule anchors. Notable titles include 7de Laan and Muvhango, alongside dramas such as Erfsondes, Geraamtes in die Kas, Roer Jou Voete and 90 Plein Street. The channel has also carried telenovelas including Keeping Score, Giyani: Land of Blood and Die Sentrum.
television programming
News and current affairs
The channel provides national news and current-affairs coverage, including language-specific bulletins in combinations of Venda, Tsonga, Sotho, Setswana and Sepedi. Its associated programming has included Morning Live, Ngula Ya Vutivi, Zwa Maramani and Leihlo La Sechaba. SABC 2 also covers major national events and public-interest issues.
television programming
Factual, reality and magazine programming
SABC 2's non-fiction schedule includes social-issue, reality, travel, talk and magazine formats. Examples mentioned in the channel's programming history include Speak Out, Relate, Saving Our Marriage, Motswako, Vusaseki, Nhlalala ya Rixaka, 50/50, Voetspore and TalkAbility. These programmes support the channel's public-service and community-oriented positioning.
television programming
Music programming
The channel carries local music and performance programming, including Afro Café, Soul'd Out Sessions, Kliphard, Musiek Roulette and Noot vir Noot. Music interludes and performance shows provide a platform for South African Afro-soul, pop and other local music styles.
television programming
Religious programming
SABC 2 broadcasts religious and faith-oriented programming for Christian, Jewish and Hindu audiences. Listed examples include It's Gospel Time, Gospel Classics, Psalted, Simcha, Derech Eretz and Issues of Faith.
television programming
Sports coverage
SABC 2 has a relatively limited live-sports role compared with specialist sports broadcasters. Its coverage has included boxing, rugby, swimming and athletics, as well as selected football involving South African national teams and CAF Champions League fixtures. Funding and rights constraints have encouraged a greater reliance on highlights and occasional live events.
television programming
International series
At various times SABC 2 has supplemented its local schedule with acquired international series. Past examples include NCIS, Pretty Little Liars, Teen Wolf and The Vampire Diaries, while more recent schedules have placed comparatively greater weight on local factual, reality and comedy programming.
Marketing campaigns
- 2013SABC 2 visual identity refresh
South Africa
SABC 2 introduced a new logo and channel presentation based primarily on blue, with red, yellow and green accents.
Outcome. The refreshed identity became the channel's current visual branding.
Brand decisions
2025
Cancel MuvhangoStrategyBackground
Muvhango had been a long-running and important Venda-language primetime programme on SABC 2.
Action taken
The SABC cancelled the programme in August 2025.
Aftermath
The decision removed a substantial local-language anchor from the channel's schedule and created a notable change in its primetime programming mix.
2018
Move to high-definition broadcastingGeneration changeBackground
The channel had been expected to introduce HD distribution through DStv as part of a technical upgrade.
Action taken
SABC 2 began official high-definition broadcasting on 8 August 2018.
Aftermath
The channel became available in a higher-resolution format while retaining its public free-to-air and multilingual programming role.
2003
Commission twelve new original programmesProduct launchBackground
The channel aimed to strengthen its original schedule with locally relevant entertainment and factual formats.
Action taken
SABC 2 announced twelve new programmes spanning sitcoms, documentaries, dramas and a family game show.
Aftermath
The announcement reinforced the channel's emphasis on local production and genre diversity.
Combined announced programme budget. US$4 million (2003 announcement)
2002
Expand local and culturally representative programmingStrategyBackground
SABC 2 sought to broaden its appeal among Black and Afrikaans audiences and to reinforce its identity as a national public-service channel.
Action taken
The channel developed projects including The Res, Dark City and Zero Tolerance, increased the weekly frequency of 7de Laan and continued Muvhango.
Aftermath
Local drama, community representation and multilingual programming became more central to the channel's schedule.
1999
Bring breakfast production in-houseOtherBackground
SABC 2 had outsourced production of am2day to Urban Brew Studios, but the arrangement was later reviewed.
Action taken
The SABC announced that the Urban Brew contract would end and that a replacement breakfast programme would be produced internally.
Aftermath
Urban Brew staff disputed the decision and alleged they had been subjected to a slander campaign; the channel proceeded with an internal-production approach.
1997
Increase emphasis on public-service programmingStrategyBackground
Following the SABC's commercialisation, the channel reviewed inherited programming and its response to changing competition.
Action taken
SABC 2 discontinued the loss-making Good Morning South Africa breakfast programme and announced a stronger public-service orientation.
Aftermath
The channel continued experimenting with local formats and later commissioned or developed additional educational, social-issue and entertainment programming.
1996
Rebrand TV1 as SABC 2StrategyBackground
The SABC sought to reorganise its three national television networks after South Africa's democratic transition and to make their language and audience roles more representative.
Action taken
TV1 was replaced by SABC 2, with a schedule combining English, Afrikaans and several African languages.
Aftermath
The change reduced the proportion of Afrikaans programming and led to dissatisfaction among some Afrikaans-speaking viewers, while establishing SABC 2 as a multilingual public-service channel.
Recent events
- 2025
SABC cancels Muvhango on SABC 2[1]
Product generation
The SABC cancelled Muvhango, removing a substantial primetime Venda-language programme from SABC 2's schedule.
- 2018
SABC 2 begins high-definition broadcasting[1]
Product generation · Other
The channel's HD service officially began on 8 August 2018 after planned distribution through DStv.
- 2013
SABC 2 introduces a new brand identity[1]
Campaign · Other
The channel adopted its current logo and a blue-led identity supported by red, yellow and green accents.
- 2003
SABC 2 announces twelve original programmes[1]
Product launch · Other
The channel announced a slate of twelve locally commissioned programmes across sitcom, documentary, drama and family-game formats, with a reported combined budget of US$4 million.
- 2000
SABC 2 revises its evening language-news schedule[1]
Other
The channel changed the timing of its Afrikaans and Sesotho evening news bulletins, placing them at 19:00 and 21:00 respectively.
- 1999
Urban Brew breakfast contract is ended[1]
Leadership change · Other
SABC 2 announced that its production agreement with Urban Brew Studios would end and that the breakfast programme would be replaced by an internally produced show. Urban Brew staff criticised the decision and alleged that they had been targeted by a slander campaign.
- 1998
SABC 2 signs breakfast-show production agreement with Urban Brew Studios[1]
Other · Product launch
The channel contracted Urban Brew Studios to produce the breakfast programme am2day, which was subsequently delayed before launch.
- 1997
SABC 2 adopts a stronger public-service orientation[1]
Other
After the SABC's commercialisation, the channel discontinued its inherited loss-making breakfast programme and stated that it would place greater emphasis on public-service programming.
- 1996
SABC 2 launches under the reorganised national television structure[1]
Other
TV1 was replaced by SABC 2 as part of the SABC's post-apartheid restructuring of its three national television services.
Sources2 sources
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